IllustrationON TRIP TO OHIO ONE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE SECOND BECAME DEFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE SHORTLY BLOWN EXCEPT IT WAS ON THE FRONT AND EXIBITED A DEFINITE WOBBLY . THE TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 13,000 MILES ON THEM.MADE IN CANADA BY NATIONAL MODEL XT 6000. *AK
1992 Mercury Cougar
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cougar years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 10 of 92 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reportsRECALL 99 V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHTS GOING OUT AND COMING BACK ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 99V275 DUE TO VIN. *LA
HEADLIGHTS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 99V275000; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.*AK
THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IM…
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THE 1992 MERCURY COUGAR INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT BELONGED TO MY FATHER, BUT HAD BEEN LOANED TO ME. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. HE PASSED OUT, POSSIBLY FROM LOW BLOOD SUGAR AND RAN THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS GOING 50MPH, WHEN HE HIT A DIRT CULVERT THAT WAS ABOUT 5 FT HIGH. THE IMPACT CRUNCHED THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE FIREWALL LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE METAL CROSS BARS IN THE TRUNK, BEHIND THE BACK SEAT SNAPPED, WHICH CAUSED EVERYTHING IN THE TRUNK TO FLY INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT FROM THE FLYING DEBREE. THE FORCE OF THE CROSS BARS SNAPPING, KNOCKED THE BACKSEAT COMPLETELY OUT OF PLACE. IF A CHILD HAD BEEN IN THE CAR, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD A CHANCE OF SURVIVAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ITEMS IN THE TRUNK SLAMMING INTO THE PASSENGER AREA.*AK
THE HEAD LIGHTS TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH ON A ROAD, CABLE GOT STUCK BETWEEN THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. CONSUMER HAD THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AKTHE TRANSMISSION BOOST CABLE HAD BOKEN WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK THEREFORE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT. *JG
WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, AND THERE WAS ANTIFREEZE ALL OVER ENGINE ALSO, VEHICLE BECAME INOPERATIVE .CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE G…
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WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK IT SEEMED FINE. WHEN I GOT INTO THE CAR AFTER WORK I IDLED REALLY ROUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS THE MORE EXPENSIVE GAS I PUT INTO IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, SO I PROCEEDED TO THE GAS STATION TO LET THEM KNOW. THE CAR DROVE REALLY ROUGH ALL THE WAY THERE. A RED LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH JUST BEFORE I GOT TO THE GAS STATION SAYING CHECK GAUGES. THE GAUGE SHOWED THAT THE CAR OVERHEATED. AFTER HAVING MY CAR WORKED ON ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO FOR A OVERHEATING PROBLEM, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING REALLY COOL, SO DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE A OVERHEATING PROBLEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR, BUT THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK TO MAKE SURE THE FAN WORKED I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE CAME A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE THAT DISAPATED REALLY FAST AFTER TURNING OFF ENGINE. CHECKED OIL THERE WAS NO WATER IN IT, BUT IT WAS LOW . I ADDED A QUART IN ORDER TO GET IT HOME. IT STILL HAD WHITE SMOKE OR STEAM COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE. ALSO THE SEATS DO NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. THE AIRCONDITIONER DOES NOT GET COLD. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT I NEED TO HAVE FIXED.
HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FLICKER OR GO OUT, THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HEADLIGHTS.*SLC
WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO MAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES THAT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRE BURNING. CONSUMER HAD LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FLICKERING HAS STOPPED, THERE IS STILL …
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WHILE DRIVING, HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF, CONSUMER HAD TO WIGGLE SWITCH TO MAKE LIGHTS COME BACK ON, AND SOMETIMES THAT DID NOT WORK, LOST ALL LIGHTS, AND SMELLED WIRE BURNING. CONSUMER HAD LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE FLICKERING HAS STOPPED, THERE IS STILL A BURNING SMELL WHEN LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON FOR AWHILE, CONSUMER ALSO HAD TROUBLE GETTING LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON DUE TO VIBRATION.*SLC
Official recalls
399V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
Oct 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 22, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4EA99005 · Headlight Switch
Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.
RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper
Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY
EA95030 · Rear Fuel Line Interference
Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
THE REAR FUEL TUBE BUNDLE MAY ABRADE AND FAIL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK.
PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing
Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available